Girl Scout Troop 777 Assembles ‘Blessing Baskets’ to Support Local Families

One of the roles of Girl Scouts is to create a sense of community in the young girls who participate. Another purpose is to develop an attitude of caring for others and serving others who are in need.

On Saturday, Nov. 22, the Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland Troop 777 checked all the boxes including having a great time together when the members and advisers of GSA Triple 7 came together to create one of its annual ways of giving back to the community.

The girls collected donations and purchased food and other sundries to create Blessing Baskets to give to area families. It is an annual event that has developed into one of the group’s favorites because it allows them to serve others while having fun.

“For 11 years we have been giving back to our community through the Thanksgiving season with our Blessing Baskets,” said April Parks, Troop 777 leader. “The baskets are filled with all the fixings for a Thanksgiving meal and a few extras including fruits, vegetables, dairy products and basic household needs.”

The idea grew out of the group’s desire to find a way to give back, and more than a decade’s worth of young ladies have found the idea of giving to be fruitful.

“This project has become very special to our troop, and we have been incredibly blessed by so many who help support our desire to help others,” Parks said. “We’d like to thank those who gave monetary donations, discounts and food.”

That list included members from the troop, Millersburg Eagles, Melway Paving, Harvey's Market, Millersburg Brewery, ladies from New Pointe Millersburg’s small group and more.

“It is through the generosity of others who help us that we are able to bless so many families,” Parks said. “I’d like to say a special thanks to my leadership team and our girls for all their help from sorting, packing and delivering the baskets. We were able to help 10 families have a happy Thanksgiving. It warms my heart to be a small part in such a selfless giving project.”

This year’s project moved to a new location because of the sheer growth of the troop, which has grown significantly. To get everyone involved into the same facility, the troop moved its event to Killbuck Valley Community Church, just west of Killbuck.

Parks said the troop has doubled in size to 28 girls, which is exciting for the leadership team in the troop. The ages of the girls range from kindergarten to high school.

Parks said promoting the lessons of giving back and learning how to serve others is an important part of Scouting, and she said the girls look forward to doing this every year because they realize it is making others happy.

The troop members made their way from their baskets to the large table to place items into their laundry baskets. While they were paying attention and doing their jobs, there also was plenty of joyful chatter and laughter that helped make the learning experience an enjoyable one.

Parks said as the baskets continued toward completion, it became more evident to the girls that the families on the receiving end of this labor of love would be receiving a real blessing for which they would be grateful for this Thanksgiving season.